Immigration in Canada: from 1947 to 2017

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Subject: Immigration in Canada: from 1947 to 2017
  Immigration in Canada: from 1947 to 2017
Celebrating the past and projecting the future
Last Updated Dec. 4, 2007
CBC News
In the 2001 census, the most recent ethnicity figures, 13 per cent of Canadians identified themselves as belonging to a visible minority.

But by 2017, if Statistics Canada projections hold true, that number could climb to between 19 and 23 per cent.

What´s more, by Canada´s 150th birthday, almost 95 per cent of visible minorities would live in metropolitan areas, with three-quarters living in Toronto, Vancouver or Montreal.

And about one-half of the people living in Toronto and Vancouver would belong to a visible minority by 2017.

According to the projections, the visible minority population of Toronto will range between 2.8 million and nearly 3.9 million within 12 years.

The main reason for this, Statistics Canada says, is an expectation of sustained immigration to Canada over the next 12 years, and the fact that a high proportion of immigrants are non-white.

Statistics Canada set up five different scenarios for future immigration rates and population growth. These scenarios predict that Canada´s immigrant population could reach between seven million and 9.3 million in 2017.

It´s a prediction that came to fruition in 2006, when one in five Canadian residents was born outside the country ? the highest level in 75 years. That proportion grew substantially from 18.4 per cent of the population, just five years earlier.

Chinese and South Asians were the largest visible minority groups in Canada according to the 2001 census, and the projection doesn´t see that changing. Roughly half of all visible minorities would belong to those groups by 2017.

Blacks would remain Canada´s third-largest minority group, reaching a population of about one million.

In Toronto, about a third of visible minorities would be South Asians. Nearly half of the visible minority population in Vancouver would be Chinese. And in Montreal, blacks and Arabs would remain the largest visible minority groups, representing 27 per cent and 19 per cent of the minority population, respectively.

[09-06-2008,15:16]
[**.155.160.37]
Sharon
(in reply to: Immigration in Canada: from 1947 to 2017)
Interesting article about predicted emerging minorities in Canada.

I noticed Asians have always been among the larger minority groups in the bigger cities, especialy Vancouver. Watched a house buying program (HGTV, "Buy Me") recently about Vancouver, and everyone was Asian - buyers, sellers, and real estate agents. Seems like Vancouver is very much like San Francisco in this mix.

What I never completely understood is where´s the eastern Europenean minorities (if you can call them that, or maybe they´re ethnic groups)? Here in Chicago, there´s huge Polish and Ukrainian neighborhoods, as well as Serbian, German, and Greek. I don´t hear much about these groups in Canadian cities, except maybe Montreal.

Sault Ste. Marie, ON where I was at for a while, was largely Italian and Ukrainian immigrant families, mostly second and third generation.

But I´m glad to hear this news, as I think ethinic and racial diversity always makes a place much more vibrant and interesting to live in.

[09-06-2008,17:23]
[**.53.229.175]
Richard
(in reply to: Immigration in Canada: from 1947 to 2017)
Manitoba has a (relatively) large Ukrainian population, as well as a couple Icelandic villages, of all things. We were surprised to see street signs in Ukrainian on the wide open prairie north and west of Winnipeg.

HGTV also has a show that takes place in Toronto, usually, called Property Virgins. I´ve learned a lot about up and coming neighborhoods in Toronto through that program (on Sundays at 6:30 Eastern).


[09-06-2008,18:19]
[**.189.189.252]
wannabecanadian
(in reply to: Immigration in Canada: from 1947 to 2017)
Richard,

More good news for you.

According to StatCanada; the last census (2006) reported about 16.2% population as ´Visible Minority", increasing from 13.4% of 2001.

Interesting observation: Among the different ethnic groups; South Asians are now dominating, they are even more than the chinese.

This is mostly attributed to the shift of more immigrants coming from Asia especially after the 90s.

"Statistics Canada said that in 2006, 83.9 per cent of immigrants who landed in Canada in the five years prior to census numbers being collected were from regions outside of Europe. In 1981, the number was 68.5 per cent."

You may find the shares of different ethnic groups here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visible_minority

Notice that last year UN described the term "visible minority" as racist and warned Canada aganist using this term.
http://www.canada.com/topics/news/national/story.html?id=f469b36e-c587-40e7-98e5-3aa50a371318&k=23802




[09-06-2008,19:05]
[***.254.208.246]
DC
(in reply to: Immigration in Canada: from 1947 to 2017)
Vancouver has ethnic pockets. The Italians and Portuguese hang around Commercial Drive, Greeks hang out on 4th Avenue. There are several enthnic community halls that are currently in full swing with Euro 2008. (I think the Swiss and Croations are sharing during the tournament)

As a country, we are struggling with the words visible minority. We are getting so politically correct that a police discription sounds almost racist when they discribe a suspect using colour of skin or ethnicity. I sometimes think we have gone too far. We have so many mixed race marriages now, what are they going to call them?

As China has stabalized and economically expanded after the succession of Hong Kong, more people are finding wealth and security at home. The fear that brought a lot of immigrants from Hong Kong has vanished - hence the reduction in numbers. Is Vancouver like San Fransisco - absolutely.

Direct flights to Hong Kong daily, lots of businesses that straddle both sides of the ocean, at least 2 biweekly chinese newspapers, an enormous Chinatown, lots of Chinese business leaders are a significant part of our general business community and the list goes on.

Same is true for our South Asian community.

[09-06-2008,19:20]
[**.155.160.37]
Sharon
(in reply to: Immigration in Canada: from 1947 to 2017)
Yes, "Property Virgins" on HGTV seems exclusively dedicated to showing Toronto area housing. Very interesting to get an idea without having to travel there. But the houses seems quite squeezed next to each other on the shows I´ve seen. And prices are up there too. But otherwise Toronto neighborhoods look quiet, peaceful, and civilized, with lots of parks.

Didn´t realize Manitoba had so many Ukrainian areas near and around Winnipeg. And in the middle of the Canadian prairie of all places!

Thanks for the stats, DC. Although not sure why increase in Asian immigration is good news for me, as I´m not Asian. But we like immigrants from everywhere. Due to European roots, looking more here on the European side of immigration in Canada.

Yes, agreeing with Sharon somewhat that UN objections to the term "visible minority" is somewhat overrated. But then should minorities be identified as separate cultural groups, or the distinction be downplayed hoping they assimilate with the rest of us. Thats´ the big sociological dilemma. In the U.S., they tend to proudly keep their separate identities and neighborhood cultures in the bigger cities.

Vancouver seems like an offshore Chinese city. Kind of like Chicago has the second highest number of Poles in the world, outside of Warsaw.

[10-06-2008,21:21]
[**.53.229.175]
Richard
(in reply to: Immigration in Canada: from 1947 to 2017)
Richard,

Not particular to Asian immigration; I thought as you like to see more diversity, and the latest Stat reported the popualtion more diverse with even higher %.

European immigrants aren´t counted as the "visible minority". So, increasing Asians are contributing this diversity.

Incidentaly just todays Toronto Star published a very interesting article about the other side of this racial diversity which is not that rosy at all.
http://www.thestar.com/article/440139

I also think that the UN objection was overrated.

[10-06-2008,23:18]
[**.207.127.42]
DC
(in reply to: Immigration in Canada: from 1947 to 2017)
there was a huge influx of Ukrainians/Mennonites that settled in the Winnipeg area in around the end of WW2. In fact, Winnipeg is the home of the best farmer sausage and perogies on the planet :) (mine are pretty good too!)

Most of those immigrants were agricultural experts and they took well to Manitoba and Saskatchewan. Many fled religious persecution and you will find pockets of Hutterites (which I realize are different than Ukes and Poles but a lot of the culture gets pretty mixed up in that part of the world - sort of like borscht.)

Winterpeg is still the hotbed of everything Mennonite, Ukrainian, Polish etc. Abbotsford in BC was also an immigration destination for eastern europeans after the war. I can buy amazing organic farmer sausage and there are several Ukrainian halls within driving distance of my house that serve perogies and holupchi every other Friday night.

My grandma was Ukrainian so you have just put me in the mood to make a batch of perogies!

[10-06-2008,23:34]
[**.155.160.37]
Sharon
(in reply to: Immigration in Canada: from 1947 to 2017)
Great article, DC, thanks. Quite an eye opener. I think Asians target Canada as a destination more than the States, as my impression.

Those pierogi are good (along with gołąbki and kapusniak). If I were in the neighborhood, I´d try to invite myself over! Polish and Ukrainian cuisine and language is very similar. I think Roy mentioned he had Ukrainian relatives and lived there at one time.

[11-06-2008,01:14]
[**.53.229.175]
Richard
(in reply to: Immigration in Canada: from 1947 to 2017)
Well then... move to Richmond!

Did you know that Asian steamed buns are really chinese peogies and lettuce wrap could pass for holupschi.




[11-06-2008,01:43]
[**.155.160.37]
Sharon
(in reply to: Immigration in Canada: from 1947 to 2017)
Ok, you´re on! Will take a look around and consider. Ah yes that´s right, I often sensed some Asian dishes seemed very familiar for some reason.
[11-06-2008,02:01]
[**.53.229.175]
Richard